GETRAG G360 5 Speed Transmission

GETRAG 5 Speed Transmission Specs & Ratios

The GETRAG 5 speed, or GETRAG G360 was used behind the 5.9L Cummins 12v from 1989 - 1993. Many owners report reliability issues with the transmission, especially when compared with other manual transmissions that have been used behind the Cummins. A popular replacement for the GETRAG G360 is the NV4500. Some 1st Gen Cummins owners suggest adding additional oil to the transmission to provide heat dissipation to the input bearing, which is a common failure point (due to a combination of heat, vibration, and load). The GETRAG 5 speed is often expensive to repair and difficult to find parts for, attributed by the fact that it was only used for 4 model years behind the Cummins.

Reliability concerns with the GETRAG G360 are often connected with towing over long distances as the transmission fluid can reach relatively high temperatures. When this occurs, the effective lubrication properties of the lube oil degrades and the bearings have a tendency to wear rapidly until ultimately failing. On the contrary, there are many GETRAG transmissions in service that have been extremely reliable and rugged; it is therefore unfair to presume that the transmission is inherently flawed. While Dodge calls for 5W-30 engine oil, many owners suggest that switching to a 15W-40 engine oil and overfilling the transmission by 1 extra quart alleviates many of the towing pains the transmission has been known to exhibit.